Steam boiler construction



May 13, 1958 A. A. RADFORD STEAM BOILER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 27, 1955 0 6 8 7 8 5 6 a 2/ M \A vvy K//////7/// Arthur A. Redford INVEN TOR.

May 13, 1958 A. A.'RADFORD STEAM BOILER consmuonon 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1955 Arthur A. Radford INVEN TOR.

United STEAM BOILER CONSTRUCTION Arthur A. Radford, Woodstock, Ontario, Canada Application July 27, 1955, Serial No. 524,699 3 Claims. (Cl. 122114) This invention relates to a boiler construction, and more specifically provides improved and novel steam boiler construction.

An object of this invention is to provide a more eflicient steam boiler specifically adapted for burning fuel in a firepot and exhausting the hot gases through tubes in a boiler shell in an upward direction and then reversing the direction of flow of the exhaust gases downwardly between the boiler shell and a jacket wherein angular fins are positioned in the area between the shell and the jacket for providing a tortuous path for the exhaust gases thereby assuring that a maximum amount of heat ,in the heated exhaust gases will be absorbed by the water in the boiler shell for converting the water to steam, thereby increasing the efficiency of the boiler construction to a maximum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a steam boiler in accordance with the preceding object which includes the provision of structure wherein residual heat in the exhaust gases passing into the'exhaust stack will partially be utilized for preheating the air and the combustible mixture as it proceeds into the firepot, thereby increasing the over-all efiiciency of the boiler and enhancing the combustion properties of the combustible details, easy to clean and maintain, efficient in operation,-

well adapted for its intended purposes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane passing through the longitudinal center of the boiler construction of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse, plan sectional view taken sub stantially upon a plane passing along section line 22 of Figure 1 illustrating the details and relationships of the boiler shell, jacket, fire tubes and baffle fins; and

Figure 3 is a transverse, plan sectional view taken substantially upon va plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 1 illustrating the details of construction of the firepot and the jacket disposed therein.

With reference to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the steam boiler construction ofthe present invention which includes a vertically elongated cylindrical steel jacket 12 of welded construction having a closed bottom 14 and an inwardly extending annular flange or rest plate 16 vertically spaced above the bottom 14. The upper end of the jacket 12 is open and is provided with a circular closure plate 18 having a depending peripheral flange 20 for telescopic engagement within the open end of the jacket 12, thereby forming a complete enclosure. The outer periphery of the plate 18 is provided with an upstanding flange 22 for receiving and positioning insulation 24 on the upper surface of the plate 18. A removable inspection plug 26 is provided in the closure plate 18 for easy removal, whereby the interior of. the boiler may be visually inspected. Y The insulation 24 is provided with an access opening 28 to 2,834,323 Patented May 13, 1958 ice permit removal and insertion of the inspection plug wherein the flame may be inspected and the interior of the boiler generally inspected. The closure plate 18 is press fitted into the cylindrical jacket 12 butv may be removed to inspect the interior of the boiler 10, as set forth hereinafter.

Disposed below the inwardly extending flange 16 is a generally cylindrical firepot 30 having a bottom 32 which is spaced from thewall of the jacket 12 and insulation 34 is provided therebetween. Also, insulation 36 is disposed completely about the exterior of the jacket 12, thereby completely insulating the boiler construction 10.

An oil burner generally designated by the numeral 38 is provided adjacent the bottom of the boiler 10 and is provided with a nozzle 40 extending into the firepot 30 together with 'a fan 42 having an air intake pipe 44 connected thereto and extending vertically therefrom. The

pending flange 54 received within the lower-end of the tubular shell 48. The concave bottom 52 is in intermittent communication With the open upper end of the firepot 30 for receiving the combustion products therefrom.

Extending vertically throughout the vertical length of the boiler shell 48 is a plurality of fines or fire tubes 56 which are secured to the closed ends 50 and 52 and extend therethrough with the lower end of the tubes 56 being in communication with the upper end of the firepot 30 and the upper ends of the tubes 56 exhausting into the area between the closure plate 18 and the upper end 50 of the boiler shell 48.

A water inlet conduit 58 provided with a valve 60 is in communication with the interior of the lower end of the boiler shell 48 and extends outwardly through the jacket 12 and insulation 38 to a suitable water supply wherein water 62 will be supplied to the boiler shell 48. A steam discharge conduit 64 is connected to the upper end 50 of the boiler shell 48 and is provided with a suitable pressure gauge 66 and control valve 68 for controlling the discharge ofsteam from the upper end of the boiler shell 48. I t

A pair of pipes 70 and 72 in spaced relation extend outwardly from the boiler shell 48 to a position exteriorly of the boiler 10 wherein they are provided with fittings 74 on the outer end thereof having valves 76 together with an interconnecting vertically disposed sight glass 78 for forming a gauge for determining the. level of water 62 within the boiler shell 48 thereby assuring that an adequate supply of .water 62 may be at all times within the boiler shell 48.

The combustion products pass from the firepot 30 upwardly into the concave lower end 52 of the boiler shell 48 and then upwardly through the fire tubes or flues 56 until they pass into the jacket 12, at which time the direction thereof is reversed and the combustion products then pass downwardly towards the flange 16 in the jacket 12 and outwardly through an exhaust pipe 80 which is in communication with a vertical exhaust stack 84 which extends parallel to the jacket 12 to a position immediately thereabove wherein the exhaust stack 84 then curves as indicated by the numeral 86. The vertical portion of the. exhaust stack 84 surrounds the air intake pipe 44 for the oil burner 38 in spaced relation thereto wherein residual heat in the exhaust gases passing through the ex haust stack 84 will be absorbed by the air taken into the oil burner 38, thereby preheating the combustion air for increasing the elfectivness of combustion of the combustible mixture and also decreasing the temperature of the exhaust gases being discharged from the boiler 10. The lower end of the exhaust stack 84 may be provided with a removable cleaning and inspection plate 88 as may the upper end of the stack 84 where it communicates with the horizontal portion 86 wherein the inspection plate 90 is disposed for easy removal and is arranged for easy access. An air regulator may be provided on the air intake 44 above the exhaust stack 84 for regulating the quantity of air taken into the air inlet pipe 44. This is not specifically illustrated and may be of any suitable type for controlling the air flow through the pipe 44. It will be noted that the exhaust pipe 8!] has an upper edge 92 which extends inwardly past the lower edge 94 for assuring that the gases will be drawn outwardly through the exhaust pipe 80 from the lowest possible point.

Secured to the outer periphery of the boiler shell 48 in vertically spaced relation is a plurality of annular fins or baffies 96 which are disposed in an angular plane in relation to a vertical axis, thereby forming bafiles for providing a tortuous path forcombustion products as they descend from the top of the jacket '12 towards the exhaust pipe 80. Each of the fins 96 is provided with a plurality of enlarged apertures 98 for permitting passage of combustion products and these apertures 93 may be staggered invrelation to each other. Also, the peripheral edge of each of the fins '96 is spaced from the inner surface of the jacket 12 to permit passage of the exhaust gases.

It will be noted that the combustion products are intimately in contact with the boiler shell 48 through substantially the entire surface area thereof, thereby increasing the efficiency of the boiler shell itself and it is also noted that the intake pipe 44 reduces the temperature of the exhaust gases even further, thereby increas ing the over-all efficiency of the boiler and reducing the heat loss in the waste gases to a minimum.

While the boiler has been specifically illustrated as being disposed in a vertical position, it will be understood that with slight modification of the fittings, the boiler shell may be disposed in a horizontal position with the firepot at the end of or alongside the boiler shell.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a steam boiler, a firepot, a vertically disposed boiler shell disposed above the firepot, inlet and outlet conduits in communication with said shell, a plurality of tubes extending through said boiler shell for permitting passage of hot gases therethrough, a jacket enclosing said shell in spaced relation thereto, an exhaust stack extending from the bottom of said jacket, a plurality of fins between the shell and jacket for slowing the flow of hot gases therebetween, and means for supplying a combustible mixture to the firepot, said fins being rigidly secured to the boiler shell. in high heat transfer relationship, said means for supplying a combustible mixture including an elongated air intake pipe, said exhaust stack being elongated and surrounding said intake pipe thereby preheating the intake air for reducing the temperature of the exhaust gases and increasing the efficiency of the boiler, said jacket having an inwardly extending flange engag ing the top of the firepot and the lower periphery of the shell, the upper end of the jacket being spaced from the upper end of the shell and being removable for inspection and cleaning of the tubes and surfaces of the shell, jacket 'and fins, said "fins 'being annular plates attached to the shell in inclined relation, each of said fins having a plurality of apertures therein and an outer edge spaced from the jacket for permitting tortuous passage of hot gases from the upper end of the tubes downwardly to the exhaust stack.

2. In a steam boiler, a firepot, a vertically disposed boiler shell disposed above the firepot, inlet and outlet conduits in communication with said shell, a plurality of tubes extending through said boiler shell for permitting passage of hot gases therethrough, a jacket enclosing said shell in spaced relation thereto, an exhaust stack extending from the bottom of said jacket, a plurality of fins between the shell and jacket for slowing the flow of hot gases therebetween, and means for supplying a combustible mixture to the firepot, said'fins being rigidly secured to the boiler shell in high heat transfer relationship, said means for supplying a combustible mixture including an elongated air intake pipe, said exhaust stack being elongated and surrounding said intake pipe thereby preheating the intake air for reducing the temperature of the exhaust gases .and increasing the efficiency of the boiler, said jacket having an inwardly extending flange engaging the top of the firepot and the lower periphery of the shell, the upper end of the jacket being spaced from the upper end of the shell and being removable for inspection and cleaning of the tubes andsurfaces of the shell, jacket and fins, said fins being annular plates attached to the shell in inclined relation, each of said fins having a plurality of apertures therein and an'outer edge spaced from the jacket for permitting tortuous passage of hot gases from the upper end of the tubes downwardly to the exhaust stack, said inlet conduit being positioned at the bottom of the shell for admitting water into the shell in surrounding relation to the tubes extending therethrough, said outlet conduit positioned at the top of the shell for discharge of steam, and gauge means for determining the water level in the shell.

3. A steam boiler construction comprising a firepot, a vertically disposed boiler shell disposed above the firepot, said boiler shell having a plurality of tubes extending therethrough, a dome-shaped bottom on said boiler shell for funneling combustion products into the tubes, an insulated jacket enclosing said boiler shell in spaced relation, said jacket having a removable top for providing access to the boiler shell, an inlet in the bottom of said boiler shell, an outlet in the top of said boiler shell, a plurality of vertically spaced fins mounted on the outer surface of the boiler shell, each of said fins being an annular plate member of substantially flat construction disposed in a plane in angular relation to the horizontal, said fins having a peripheral edge in spaced relation to the jacket for permitting passage of combustion products therebetween, said fins being rigidly secured to said boiler shell for efficiently transferring heat from the fins to the boiler shell for heating water therein, said fins increasing the surface area contacted by the hot combustion products and retaining the combustion products in contact with the boiler shell for a longer period of time, each of said fins including a plurality of apertures for aiding in the passage of combustion products, and an exhaust stack extending from the bottom of said jacket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 201,988 Boehmler et a1. Apr. 2, 1878 329,923 MacDonald Nov. 10, 1885 671,937 Birdsall Apr. 9, 1901 748,472 Brandt et al Dec. 29, 1903 1,046,308 Kitchen Dec. 3, 1912 1,365,608 Trumble Jan. 11, 1921 1,605,621 Shuell Nov. 2, 1926 1,693,043 Murray Nov. 27, 1928 1,965,278 Clark et al July 3, 1934 

